Sacrificial biofabrication for vascularization: concept, materials, technologies, and applications

Vasculature plays a crucial role in tissue engineering since it is essential for maintaining tissue viability by efficient nutrient and oxygen exchange as well as waste removal. The creation of biomimetic vascular networks is therefore critical for the development of functional tissue constructs. Sacrificial biofabrication has emerged as an effective method for engineering vascular structures by creating temporary templates that are subsequently removed to form well-defined vascular channels. In this review, the concept of sacrificial biofabrication is introduced and defined, with a focus on vascularization. Then, a comprehensive overview of the commonly used sacrificial materials based on different types of external stimuli is provided, and the classification and design principles of surrounding materials are briefly introduced. Additionally, various fabrication technologies employed to process sacrificial materials are summarized, and the diverse applications of sacrificial biofabrication in disease models and regenerative medicine are discussed. Finally, the current challenges are highlighted, and the future perspectives for advancing sacrificial biofabrication are explored to address the demand for vasculature manufacturing.